Machine tool



L C. COLE MACHINE TOOL Dec. 6, 1938.

10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1954.

Srm entor (ittorneg 3 1| i111 ill lxll ll| \ll IIIIIIllIuIII I 1OSheets-Sheet 2 HU- I I II M O (Ittorneg 6, 1938. 1.. c. COLE MACHINETOOL Filed Sept. 8, 1954 Dec. 6, 1938. L. c. COLE 2,139,403

MACHINE TOOL Filed Sept. 8,1954 10 Sheets-Sheet :5

3nnentor y m 4 all (lttomeg 1938- 1.. c. COLE 2,139,403.

MACHINE TOOL Filed Sept. 8, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 ((3a) M MrM GttornegL. c. COLE 2,139,403

MACHINE TOOL Filed Sept. 8, 1934 1o Sheets-Sheet 5 1938- L. c. COLE2,139,403

MACHINE TOOL Filed Sept. 8, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 L. C. COLE MACHINETOOL Filed Sept. 8, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIJIWKU INVENTOR ATTOR Y L.C. COLE MACHINE TOOL Dec. 6, 1938.

Filed Sept. 8, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Z'mmntor (Ittorneg 6, 1938. L. clCOLE 2,139,403

MACHINE TOOL Filed Sept. 8, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Snfientor I W C 3 6/(Ittomeg Dec. 6, 1938. 1 c. COLE 2,139,403

MACHINE TOOL Filed Sept. 8, 1954 1o sheets-sheet 1o HEHD H50 GDNTROLLHIOF HJJJLL- 7'0 TOOL HL'HD FEED CONTR UIHS OFAF.

ZSnnentor (Ittomeg Patented Dec. 6, 1938 a V Application-September8,1934, WNmIMI 1 M ,1sc1 iim. (Cite-4;) i Thisinvention relates toapparatus for' peroi 'Operatingmechanisms corresponding '"respecforminganumber of desired operations on work "tively to the constructions shownin Figs. 2 and 3; pieces ina sequential manner. 9 a Fig. 7 is anendelevation of the machine series one objectoi theinvention is theprovision of as viewed from the left of Fig. 1, showing the a method,and apparatus for carrying out such end turntable andthe'broachingmachine; 1 5 method, for performing interrelated sequential Fig. il -isan end view 01 the machine series 'as operations in timedrelationshiponanadvancing viewed from the right hand end at Fig. 3; line ofworkpieces, in which the"operatiorisare Fig.19is a top planview of oneof the fixtures, carried outrapidly and in a very economical showingtheworhWhich :it supports in dotted fiomannerh' j i lines; g Anotherobject is the provision of a process and F18. 10 is a transversesectionthrough the fixapparatus 'in which alternate work pieces are ture'andtrack at the index table; 4

moved in carrying fixtures out of the lineoi ad- QFig. 11 showsth'egearing arrangement for ro'--v vance to opposite'sides of the-lineintomachines tating the fixture exactly 180 at the index table; 5 forperforming operations requiring a "longer Fig. 12 is a diagrammaticshowingof the guidtime than those machines or mechanisms in the ingcontrol leversused at a transfer station; 1

line i e e i Fig. 13 is a sectional view through the feeding eAnotherbbject oi the invention is the provision screw and fixture guide;1 i p of a series of mechanisms adapted forsuccessive Fig. 14 is adiagrammatic showing various eleopeifa'tions'on work piecesmounted incarrying ts of e co ol a operat n system by fixtures; feeding meansbeing provided for movwhich the control of the starting and stopping ingthe fixtures different amounts in accordance movements are eflected; i vwith the distance between the successive stations, Fig. 15 hadiagrammatic showing of the elecsuch feeding means being of simpleconstruction trical circuits controlled by the drum; 23 andadapted tomove the fixtures simultaneously Fig; 16 is a diagrammaticshowing of themotor 25 the required distances. control connections; and F Anotherobject of the invention is the pro- Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic view ofauxiliary convision, in a series-of operatingmechanisms foltrollingcircuits. I i "lowing one another and adapted for successive"Theinvention as herein set-forth is described, 130 operations on workpieces, of afcommon feed for purposes of illustration, as applied to the,screw for the fixtures fwhich carrt the work machiningfof enginecylinder blocks, but it will pieces, together with means cooperatingwith the be apparentthat other forms ofwork pieces refeed screw forguiding the fixtures intheirproper quiring various machine operationsmay be opattitudes in the desired path of travel. erated upon inaccordancewith the proeess'and "Another object of the invention istheproviby the apparatus herein set forth." Furthermore 3 sion of aseries of mechanisms of the*character as herein described, the inventioncompriss'mareferred to, having controlmeans for starting and chines forbreaching and drilling the work pieces, stopping thevarious operationsin proper timed {but other types ofmachines adaptedfor cutting"relationship one with another and arrangedto "or otherwise operatingupon the work maybe 10 carryout the various operations with a minimumemployed in conjunction w t Orin placed 40 of lost time. t j f i Idrilling orthebroaching machines.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent f Reierringunoreparticularly to Figs. 1 to 6 fromthe following description, the appended"inclusive,the series of machines or mechanisms claims and theaccompanying drawings in starts with an indexing tabiestation designatedwhich,--; v V generally by the letter A and" provided for -rotat- Figs;1, 2 and 3 ,taken collectively show aside "ing an empty workcarryingfixtureor holder that elevation of a series of mechanismsembedying hasbeenmoved backirom the end of the line sothepresentinvention for carrying outseeuential- ""as to bring thefixture into alignment with the 1y a number of difierent operations on aseries series of advancing fixtures. The fixture is then of work pieces;a moved to "the loadingstation B,and asthe fixture 50 Fig. 4 shows a topplan view,partly in section remains stationary between feeding oradvancto disclose the fixture feeding mechanism, 0! ing' steps, theoperator has sufiiclent time to apone end of the series of mechanisms,this view "ply the work; such asthe engine cylinder block correspondingto the construction shown in Fig. 1; H), to a'fixture duringthe timefollowing the po- 155 Figs. 5 and 6show top plan views of the series"sitioning of the*"fixtureat-the top of the index ing table at station Aand before the fixture is advanced from station 3 to the broaching machine C.

The breaching machine is a mechanism for 5 carrying out surfacebroaching to machine the cylinder banks, the cutting or bnoaching of thework taking place in a line transverse to the line of the machineseries. as more fully set forth in my prior applicatim for LettersPatent, Serial 10 No. 714.044 for Machine tool, filed March 5, i934.Afterthebroachingofthecylinderbanks has been completed at station 0, thefixture, carrying the work with it, is moved .-a further step to station1). The operation at station D is, for ex- 16' ample, a rough boringoperatim of the'cylinders. .IThls operation requires somewhat longerthan f the operations carried out at station C and some of the followingstations,and to provide a small minimum time between feeding steps ofthe whole series of fixtures, successive fixtures adto stationD aremoved laterallyto opposite sidesof the line of advance into two separateboring machines D and D', one fixture, for example moving out to machineD the next fixture moving out to machine D and a following fixturemoving out to machine D, the fixture previously subplied tom'achine D.having Just previously moved back into-the'line of advancing fixturesand again resuming its forward movement along the line.

After leaving the station D a fixture travels on to an idle station Ewhich may be provided between station ,D andv the next machining stationI. At station I", as at station D, the time for carrying out the desiredmachining operation may becomparatively long, and as herein shown, twosimilar operating mechanisms F and l" are provided at opposite sides ofthe line and adapted to receive alternate fixtures from the advancingline. The machines I! and I" may drill the valve guides and the P l rodholes of the engine cylinder block.

After leaving the station F, the fixture is moved ahead to a turn tablestation G, where it is rotated about a vertical axis through 90 degreesso that the cylinder rows which previously extended transversely of theline of advance will be so moved as to extend parallel to the line ofadvance. In this latter .position, the work,-carried by thefixture, ismoved another feeding step to station H and it is there operated on bydrill mechanism which can, for example, drill the valve throats. 'I heopposing drill banks at station H incline downwardly and inwardlytowards the line of advance instead of inclining in planes parallel tothe line of advance as at stations D and 1". l

The next. feedingv step takes the fixture and thework to station .I,which as herein shown is another drill mechanism adapted to drill holesin the cylinder banks. The next feedingstep carries the work to stationJ, another drilling mechanism, for chamfering the holesin the cylinderbanks. A further step carries the work to station K for chamfering the,ends of the cylinder bores. The next station is station'L, where holesare drilled in the top of the cylinder block. This is followed bystation), another turn table station, where the fixture is rotated againthrough 90 degrees to bring it back to its original attitude with' thecylinder rows extending transversely to the line ofhdvance. The nextstationis an idle or unloading station N, and the last advancing steptakesthe fixture. to station where it is indexed by moving it about aline parallel to the line of advance, thus inverting the fixture andmoving it into the line of return which, as herein shown, is below theline of advance. The work is removed from the fixture at stations N or 0before the indexing or rotating movement of the fixture takes place.

After the fixture is inverted, at the end of the line, it is then movedback rapidly to the head of -the,line and then moved up into the line ofadvande. Another workpiece is then secured to it and moved up into theline of advance.

It will be understood that in carrying out the various machining orcutting operations on the work as the work passes through the line ofmechanisms, the work is fed forwardly predetermined distances step bystep, the work remaining fixed while being operated upon by themechanismsandtravelling from one mechanism to a succeeding mechanism sothat when the work reaches the end of the line a large number ofoperations have been completed, and the work can then be removed andother operations carried out, if desired, in another. line of mechanismadaptedfor the. particular operations to be subsequently performed;

I One of the operating mechanisms of the seriesv carries, out .itsintended function on one work piece atv that location at the same timethe other imechanismsare also carrying out their intended .beenillustrated in' Eigs. 9 and 10, as indicated generally by referencenumeral 9, are preferably square as viewed from above. Each comprises avertical wall portion ii anda bottom portion I2 on which the cylinder.block or other work is clamped in a predetermined position, as by meansof the holding clamps .or arms it.

At a plurality of spaced points, preferably at diagonally. 'bl positecorners of the fixture, the vertical walls i I. are socketed or recessedas indicated at it, the sockets serving as locating points .by'means ofwhich the fixtures are exactly and accuratelylocated in a machine afterbeing moved into approximate position in the machine by. thefeedingmeans. Each machine has a pair of studs on'a pressure block whichis moved down after the fixture is approximately located sothat thestuds enter the sockets ll of the fixture and cooperate therewith toaccurately position the fixture with respect to the cutting tools of themachine.

Adjacent each corner and near the lower portion of the fixture arerollers I adapted to operate along carrying tracks it, see Fig. duringthe. returning movement of the fixtures when they areinverted. lLEachfixture is also provided with four downward projections that extend downfrom the fixture base, in the form of cylindrical pins or rings I8, is,and ii. These rings are rotatably mounted in the bottom wall of thefixture-and'serve to guide the fixture in a straight pathduring itsadvancing movement and to cooperate with a feeding screw which producesthe desired feeding movements.

The feeding screw; which is generally designated by the numeral 23,comprises a number of sections. The first section 24 is adapted to movethe fixture from the indexing table at the head of the line to the idlestation B as the feed screw is rotated a predetermined number ofrevolutions, the machine as illustrated being adapted for ninerevolutions of the feeding screw to ad-, vance a fixture from onestopping point to the moved up into position by the indexing table atstation A. Nine revolutions of the screw section 24 will then carry thefixture ahead'to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 at stationB. After a predetermined time interval, the

screw shaft will again rotate nine more revolutions thus moving thefixture from station 13 to the center of station C. The thread spacingof screw section 24, as shown in Fig. 4, is such that the two pins l9and I8 are simultaneously en-.

gaged with the threads. Thedistance between the pins I 8 and I9may forexample be 36","and. the threads on the screw section 24 may have apitch of 6" so that'the pin I9 is first engaged alone and after thefixture is'advanced from the indexing table the pin it is also picked upby the threadrof the screw. I

The threads on the screw section 24 terminate at sucha point as to-leave the 'fixture centered at station C afterthe rear pin lfipassesbeyond effective propelling engagement with the. thread. This bringstheforward pin [3 of the fixture into such position that after apredetermined angular travelof th'e screw of about 90 degrees, thethread on the nextsection 25 of the screw will be brought intopropelling engagement with pin [9 and move the fixture through anotheradvancing step. a

The screw sections, which are connected together for simultaneousrotation, are rotatably carried in a series of bearings at the ends ofthe sections. The forward end of the first screw section and the rearend of the last section, and likewise the outer ends of the auxiliarytransverse screwsections, are also carried in a semicylindrical bearing"shell 25 which engages the outer portions of the threads on the screw asshown in Fig. 13, leaving the upper portion of the screw exposedthrougha central slot 21 in the bed of the fixture support. "This slot21 which extends the length of the various machines and which is formedby the two spaced guide plate portions 28 forms a guide for'therotatable pins I8 and I9 of the fixture. In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 themachines are illustrated with the plate portions removed except at onepoint at station D, for purposes of better illustration; The side pins20 and 2| operate freely between the surfaces 29, which extendlengthwise of the series and at opposite sides of the fixture bed onwhich the bottom of the fixture is slidable. The fixture is thereforemaintained in its desired attitude'as it is moved forwardly by the feedscrew.

Before the fixture is moved from station C, and while the screw isstationary, the desired machining operation is carried out at station C.The mechanism at this station is a broaching machine, as previouslymentioned, having broaching tools 33 "carried by a suitable ram tudinalmovement.

which operates transversely of the line of advance and cuts the cylinderbank surfaces simultaneously, this operation being carried outcomparatively rapidly and requiring only a fractional part of a minuteeven for a large surface such as a cylinder block. It will be understoodthat when the fixture is first moved tothe position C by the screwsection 24, and at the end of the feeding movement, the verticallymovable pressure block 32 of the broaching mechanism C will descend andbring the locating pins provided thereon into the locating sockets 14 ofthe fixture, whichare suitably: tapered to facilitate the engagement ofthe locating pins, so as to exactly position thefixture'at this station.The broach then moves across the work, performing its intendedoperation, and returns, and during V and groove device 34 forming .ajoint which insures simultaneous rotationatboth sections. The

rear or runoff end of thesection'24 is journalled in a suitable bearing35 which is provided below the path of the pins l8 and IQ of thefixtures and which definitely holds the section against longi- On theopposite side of coupling 34 is a second bearing 35' which rotatablysupports the forward end of section 25 without,

however, holding this end against longitudinal movement, as it is onlythe run off or rear end of each screw section that is so held in orderto provide for expansion eifects. Adjacent the bearing 35 is a bevelgear 36 of such size as not to project into thepath oftravel of thefixture pins, this bevel gear meshing with a driving pinion 31 carriedon a shaft 38 which extends out angularly as shown in Fig. 4 for drivingconnection with an electric motor 39. Similar motors 40, 4| and 42, andsimilar driving connections of the screw or feeding shaft are providedat spaced points along the screw so that the entire screw will be drivenat a number of spaced points and the driving force and torque tendenciesthus distributed.

The feeding screw 25 moves the fixture a much greater distance than thefirst and second feeding steps, the distance from the center of stationC to the center of station D being comparatively long. The pitch of thethreads on the screw section 25 is much greater than the pitch of thethreads on section 24, so that nine turns of the shaft willadvance "thefixture the comparatively long distance from station C to station D, thepitch being properly coordinated with the distance through which thefixture is to travel from one station to the next. I The pitch of thethreads in the section 25 may for example be 12" so that thespacingbetween the pins I8 and 59 on the fixture is a multiple of the threadpitch in. order that the threads of the screw section simultaneouslyoperate in propelling the two pins I8 and IQ of the fixture during itsadvancing movement up to the station D. The distance between threads ofsection 25, and also between the threads of all the other sections ofthe feeding screw is considerably greater than the diameterof the pinsl8 and IS on the fixtures.

When a fixture reaches station D, the main feedscrew stops, leaving thefixture in the center of the station, but free of lateral restraint, asthe side pins 20 and 2| are now positioned opposite 15 the slots 44which extend transversely of the line of advance, and as the guideplates 2! are interrupted directly opposite the pins I8 and II at thestopping position of the fixture. The fixture is thus free to be movedlaterally to either side of the line. The fixture is moved out of theline of advance to the machine or mechanism D by means of an auxiliaryfeed screw ll, similar in construction to the screw section 28. Thethreads on this section I, however, with the screw section in its normalposition, terminate outwardly beyond the path of the side pin 2|, and inorder for the pin ii to be picked up by the threads on this section ll,the latter is moved endwise toward the fixture the proper amount underthe control of a fiuid pressure operated plunger ll, the screw section45 then being rotated by an electric motor 41 to move the fixturelaterally into the machine B. when the pin 2| of the fixture has beenmoved beyond the end of the threads on the auxiliary screw section I thefixture is approximately positioned in the desired relationship withrespect to mechanism D. However, to accurately and exactly position thefixture before the cutting operation on the work starts, the boringmachine I) is provided with a locating head carrying locating pinsengageable with the locating holes ll of the fixture. This head firstdescends and first positions and then securely holds the fixture withrespect to the fixture supporting bed. After this has been accomplishedthe boring tools II are brought into eifective engagement with the work.Suitable electric motors B2 are provided for operating the boring tools.

After the boring operation at machine D has been completed thepositioning head it rises, freeing the fixture so that the fixture canbe moved back to the line of advance, the movement back to the line ofadvance being efiected by the auxiliary screw 48 which is first movedendwise toward the fixture so as to bring the end of the screw threadsbelow the fixture pin II, this movement being effected by the fiuidpressure cylinder ll. The screw is then rotated in a reverse directionby the motor so as to move the fixture back to the lme of advance. Itwill reach that position when the pin II has been moved to the end ofthe screw thread on the auxiliary section 48 while the latter is stillin its outermost position.

A similar machine D is provided at the opposite side of the line, andfixtures can be moved to and from the machine l) in the same manner asthey are moved to and from the machine 1'). One fixture is moved tomachine I). the next to machine D', etc., successive fixtures beingmoved to opposite sides of the line. If there is a time interval of 36seconds between successive feeding movements of the fixtures along theirline of advance, a fixture may remain in the machine D, for example,twice as long for thewlonger operation taking place in that machine,before being returned again to the line of advance. The operation of theother faster. machines in the line is therefore not slowed up and a veryhigh output can therefore be obtained.

For guiding the fixtures as they move into the station D at a time whenthey are not continuously guided in their advancing movements by theslots or guide surfaces along which the fixtures operate, a pair ofpivoted arms 64 and I! are provided at each side of the line of advance,see Figs. 4 and 12. These arms are rotatable through 90 degrees into thedotted line position shown in Fig. 12 so that the rotatable rollers Iicarried by the arms, after serving to guide the sides of the fixturesinto the station D (or from the station D to the next succeedingstation) will be effective in guiding the fixtures laterally to machinesD and D. The arms are automatically operated at the proper time in thesequence of operations by fluid pressure means, or the like, as will bemore fully described.

After'the boring operation has been completed on the work in eithermachine D or I), the work is moved back to the line of advance and thenext feeding movement of the niain feeding screw propels the fixtureunder the action of the screw section I to the idle station E, anotherfeeding operation advancing the fixture under the control of screwsection II to station I". At station F and at opposite sides of the lineof travel, as previously mentioned, are the mechanisms F and I" to whichalternate fixtures are supplied in the same manner as they are suppliedto the machines D and D'. The fixtures are alternately supplied from themachines I" and F back to the line of advance and then moved forwardlyby the screw section 5| to a turn table station G. Here the fixturerests on a table II which is slotted annularly as indicated at 60 forthe reception of the pins ll, i8, 20 and II as the fixture is rotated.The fixture is engaged by a turning head II which first descends underthe action of a fiuid pressure cylinder 82 so as to bring its locatingpins into engagement with the cating holes ll of the fixture. The headII is then rotated 90 degrees about a vertical axis so that the fixturesare then arranged as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. The head Ii thenrises, freeing the fixture for further forward movement under thecontrol of the feed screw. The screw section I! then moves the fixtureforward to station H. The drill axis at this station inclines upwardlyand outwardly away from the line of advance, the mechanism H beingcomparatively long in a direction transverse to the line of fixturemovement. By turning the work before it is moved to station H,'themechanism B. may be arranged in the position as shown so as to reducethe length of the line of machines.

The work is held in the exact position desired in the machine H, by avertically movable pressure or locating head 85 which descends beforethe drilling operation is started, the head 65 having locating pins.engageable with the locating sockets ll of the fixture. The head is ofcourse released by upward movement thereof at the proper time after thedrilling operation has been completed to free the fixture for furtheradvancing movement.

After leaving the machine H, the feed screw section ll moves the fixtureto station I, and in a similar manner the screw sections 01, 68 and 69move the fixtures to successivedrilling machines J, K and L. Section IIof the screw takes the work from station L to another turn table stationwhich is similar to the turn table station G, but which rotates thefixture back to its original position so that the screw section II movesthe fixtures with the work positioned in such a way that therows ofcylinders extend transversely of the line of advance. The section II ofthe screw moves the work to the unloading station where the clamping orholding arms retaining the work in the fixture are loosened and the workremoved. The fixture is then automatically moved on to the rotatableindexing table at station 0, being 'moved beyond the end of the threadson the feeding saw; he in exi g" table i then rotated so as to invert;the fixture and dumpthe chipsfrom the fixture, bringing the fixture intotheline of return as; shown in; theglower portion ofFig. 10.

The fixture is then returned tothehead of, the

line through a, passage provided inthev various a connected machine,frames -andtfixture support r ing bed, sections providedbetweenadjacent T-he indexing movement ofa fixture as it ismoved o atstation O is always clockwise as viewedin Fig 8, bringing the fixture toits invertedposition and bringing the thread1 fragment of the; fixtureinto engagement with thereturn screw 11. l At the it ;head end oftheline as to position the fixture on the indexing table atstatiomA whenthe thread fragment on the fixturemoves off of the, return screw; ,Whenthe fixture isimoved up by the in- The comparatively long distancebetween succes head endof the line the fixture is indexed in theopposite direction,uthat is clockwise as viewed in f ;Fig. '7 Thethreads on the return screw 11 preferably terminate atsuch a, point:adjacent the dexing table atstationA itis brought into such apositiomasgshown in Fig."f4, that the pin [9 is somewhat to the right of,the end of thethread on the screw section 24, which, however, isstopped at t that time in such positiontas to permit pin l9 to move toaposition directly. above the screw axis.

, sive screwthreadsof the screw with respect to the diameter ofthefixture pin readily permits this.- o a The feeding screwis stoppedautomatically as will 40,

be further described so as to requireaboutQO degrees movement to pick.up the fixture, and the relationship between thethreadsofradjacent'sections: of the, advancing screw is also such that;abut,,90-degrees movement of the screwis required beforethe1,-forwardupin l9,of anya.fixture is pickedup at thestart of afeedingoperation. As will be apparent fromcFigs."1 to fipthe fixturewcarrying supports 1 or-bedsections'are =detachably ,boltedto the machinetools or operating mechanisms, withwhichtthey are associatedsothat anyflmechanism can-beremovedfrom the line or series .for repair purposesorthe like; the sectionalrchar- 1 acterpfpthe feed screw permittingtheremoval of:

1 any machine tool withoutdisturbing the positions 10f; theothermachinertobls or the other parts of t the feed screw.

Thefixtures are m o vedexactly 180 degrees in their indexing or turningmovements at anend of the. lines Thismovement isigaccomplishedwby an:electric motor, which drives} a worm operating worm'gear 80, see Figs.ll andl'l. The worm gear w :80 is fixed to a gear 8| which makespnecomplete rotationnbefore the motor 1 is; automatically; stopped. "Thegrooveslin the-gear 8| are engaged by teeth in a-gear 82 whichmesh'eswith a gear 83 fixed to the index table. ='2'l', :-degreesrotation m s t n o t s c0115 o e-n switches 4" gear Bl moves thegeart83,-and consequently the indextable exactly 180 degrees 1 Theremaining 90 degrees movement ofgear-Bl mereljyholds the gear 83 exactlypositionedas the grooves extend annularly in the'gear 8| ,forc'onequarterof its a circumference, as shown in Fig. 11.

At the beginningof eachcycle of operations, the fixturesare stationaryvone on e'achlongitudinal station except on the unloading index table.

- operator has just finished trolling; operator at ;of'the,line.

'tion for each cycle; l c i D snar One fixture-is on the bottomoftheloading; index table; ,All the tool heads are. up,

their locating pins having 3 been withdrawn-and having, at thelimit oftheir upward movements, closed electrical contacts or switcheswhichautomatically. initiatea new cycle of operations. The

head of the line.

master starting switch 86 shown in Fig. 15. From then on each cycle isinitiated automatically unless the operationisstoppedby the emergencyswitch Blor by the tripping of overload relays. The emergency switchfllhis operatedbya cable which is operated within easyreach of theconanypoint along the length The apparatus illustrated in Figs. 15, 16 and 17maybe used forthe automatic control of the various sequentialoperations.This apparatus A fixtu reis on eacho f the two cross index sectionsloading a bloclr at the includes a master controlling drum 89 whichcarries cams 90, 9| sass-s4, 95,- 96, 91,98, 99, I00

and IBI. ,Fig. 15 shows thevarious cams devel oped in a singleplanethroughout the 360 degrees extent of the drum. The length of eachcam represents the length, of angular movement in which a contact isheld closed for performing its desired function. r, The drum 89 isdriven as shown in, Fig. 14 through a differential gear drive I02 fromthe screw 23 and alsothrough a differential gear drive connection N13 tothe, return complete revolu- I screwfll the drum making one The stoppingof the longitudinal, index, screw 23 at the end of nine, revolutions iscontrolled by cam 9|} opening itscontact. The drum is being turned up,to this point because the master switch 86.is closed and a circuit iscompleted across the line terminals lM through the closed overloadrelays H15 and through the, energizing coil I05 which energizes lowvoltage relay I06, which functions-to short -cirouitrthe starting switch86 after the latter has been'closed. This energizes one side of the;various contactspperated by the variouswcams; The,contact operated bycam 9D is therefore closed, completing the through the variousswitches101, which are anj-tomatically closed by the machine heads of the:various machines'whenin their raised positions,

circuit energizing the coils J08. [09,110, andwlll, thusclosingtheswitches .l 055, to l H inclusive toenergize coil H2. Coil ll2 being energized closes switch I I21, thus ycompleting 1 a circuitthrough the contactvof ,cam fll The switch I I2 ener- 1 gizes the, fourscrew: ,driving motors,.39-, to 42 simultaneously, gsee, Fig;;1,l,6)thuscausing the drum to rotate, as it is connected to :the screw.

, After thescremhas made about eight revolua tions, and before the cam90 opens its contact to stop the motors, the cam SH opens its contact,

if energizing coil I I3 whichhad been short circuited ;by closed switch,I I2. Energizing coil H3, closes the switch Il3;shown in;Fig. 17 in anauxiliary circuit which energizescoils land 5., The

,aboye mentioned, eam 92 closes, its contact, en-

erglzingycoils H1, H8, H9 and 120 :thus closing shunt resistance I21across each" motor arma-. ture which causes the motors to run moreslowly contacts ll l' llB H9 and l2llf, cutting in a' until such time asthe switch II! is opened by opening the contact of cam It at the end ofnine revolutions of the index screwpdynamic braking being applied to themotors which 'stop within the allowableovertravel'of about sixty degreesof the screw.

When thescrew'stops,'thedrum also stops for -a short period (until it isagain-driven by the operation of-the return "screw 11 When the drumcomes to a stop, the'cam "keeps its contact closed, and a timelimit'relay TL-I'is energized which. however, is so timed as to close itscontact about one second or so after the drum has stopped." Closing ofthe contact of this time limit relay energizes coil III, closingswitchiu, thus energizing coil I23; Theenersimtlon of the coil lltcioses switch III (see dex motor I21.

Fig. 18), starting the motor I: A similar arrdigement at the same timeenergizes coil Ill closing switch I2l' thus energising coil I28, closingswitch I28 and starting'the'other rotary in- I the bottom and bringingthe fixture which was at the bottom-at the head of the lineup to the topto lie loaded again. Suitable feed limit switches II! and I" areemployedto controlthe stop s oi the index motors.

At the same time the rotary index motions take place. the closed contactof cam 82 has also energised electric solenoid coils in and m. first ofthese is attached to a commercial air or hydraulic control valve (seeFig; 14) of any suitable character and shifts its piston in a directionto let air or other fluid under pressure enter the line ISL-causingthevarious locating pins III to descend and enter the hold provided inthe flxtures to'exactly locate the fixtures in their proper positionsfor machining the work piece which they carry. Atthe end of'the lineIslis a pilot line I supplying fluid to pilot valve I81 and reset valveIII. The latter pilot valve mm posltioii to letfluid enter the line m.-

operating a suitable valve. to a position to let fluid enter 11mm. therotary fluid valve III to turn'ilil' degrees, rotating a shaftIflthrough 180 degrees through an eccentric connection, moving thebroachsaddle I down-- wardly. "fhebro'ach saddle carries locating pinslocatestheflxtureinitsproperplaoer 1 The line Ill aho supplies fluid toa cylinder I" on the turn tabieat station ll, thus lowering the head Iwhich isprovided with locating pins which enter the holes provided inthe fixture engageable with the holes in theflxture. At the end of thestroke of the piston I" a projecting member I unbslances a control valvein, Oil! ing its piston to move to such so as'to cause the rotary headI" to turn exactlya 90 degrees. I SImilarioperations take place at theturntable of station G.

Solenoid m which was also operated with solenoid It! supplies fluid fromasupp v Pip I The :various' coils above men- Thef position as to letfluidenter line IlI'andoperate a'rotary motors I21 and I24, closes'itscontact, but no current is supplied to the return screw motors until therotary index operations have been completely stopped and the rotarylimit switch I30 has closed a circuit through the time limit relay TLI.-The time limit relay operates after a second or so delay, to then startthe return screw motor, consequently causing the drum to rotate. Thetime limit relay IL-2 is inserted in this circuit for safety to insurecomplete engagement of a fixture with the return screw before the returnscrew starts moving. The return screw now'propels the flxture towardsthe head of the line. The broach at this time-is also performing itscutting operation under the control of its self-contained fluid pressureoperated control system.-

, The locating pins m of the various'machine tools have moved theirrespective fixtures to their proper positions after stopping the indexscrew. These pins are attached to pistons I which have extensions IIIwhich open and close double limit switches III and I". With the pins intheir lowered positions, the extensions I" each opens a switch"! andcloses a switch I". The closing of all the contacts or switches I60, asindicated in Fig. 17, operates the tool heads or cut ting devices of thevarious machines, so that all of the drilling operations at stations'H,I, J, K, and L start simultaneously.

Shortly before the cam Oil opens its contact, cam DI which controls thestarting of the fixtures in both directions at stations D and F', closesits contact but no current is supplied to the crossindex motors I82 andIII until the cross index levers II and I! have each closed a circuitthrough a limit switch I". The closing of the limit switches I energizesthe cross-index motors it! 1 and I so that the cross-index screws willpick up the fixtures at stations D and F and propel them. to themachines D and 1". Towards the .end ofits travel, the fixtures areslowed down,

since the motors are slowed down at this time, so

that when the flxture disengages itself from the transverse feed screwsection it stops at the proper place. After it hasdisengaged itself fromthe screw,,limit switches I" and I open their contacts and dynamicbraking is applied to stop the fixtures within 60 degreesovertravelof'the screw. :The limitswitches I t! and I68, together with a number ofadditional limit switches are provided in the boxes I and operated inproper timed sequence by movable controllers which are driven from themotors I" and I I.

, Shortly after the flxture leaves the center of station D on itsoutward travel movement to D the reverse limit switch I10, operated intimed relation with'switches I01 and Isl is closed, but no reversingofthe motors takes place as the limit relay TL-4 (which is controlled by alimit switch controlled coil TL-l') is kept open. Themotors'whichoperate the lateral screw sections come to rest byopeningrof the limit switch I6? at the same time the reverse limitswitch contact III is closed; and after cam opens its Contact to cut itscurrent completely off, TL-4 closes, thus establishing the reversecircuit for the motors. At the next cycle the motors I62 and I63 :willstart up in the reverse direction and thus move theflxtures back to theline of advance.

the work. The solenoid I14 similarly operates to move the plungers I100:machines D and F downwardly and bring the locating pins I10 of themachines D and F into engagement with the working fixtures carried inthose machines. The pistons I10 also carry extensions similar to thepistons I30" of the single drilling machines, these extensions operatingswitches I and III. The closing of all the contacts ill of the machinesD and F when the plungers, I10 are loweredr energizes the tool headmotors, thus causing the operation of the drills. Lowering of the toolheads opens switches I04- deenergizing solenoid I14.

While the drum 00 is still turning, driven by the return screw, the cam00 opens its contact, deenergizing solenoids I14 and I15. Subsequentlycam I00 closes its contact, but no circuit is established at that.instant. The machining operations at stations D and F have beenmeanwhile completed and the tool heads returned to their upperpositions, closing limit switches I04. This energizes solenoid coil I00to raise the locating pins and the head which carries them. Solenoid Ioperates its valve to supply fluid to line I06, raising the variouspistons and the pin hold ing heads of machines D and 1".

Raising of the locating pin heads of machines I) and F closes contactsor switches I00 and opens contacts I00. The closing of the contacts I00,with the cam 01 closing its contact supplies current through the timelimit relays I00 and IOI establishing circuits to energize thecrosstraverse motors I02 and I00, and as the reverse circuit wasestablished atthe previous cycle the motors are started so as to movethe fixtures from machines D and I" back to the line of advance. Towardthe end of its travel the motor slows down the. same way as previouslydescribed in the opposing machines D and F. After the fixture leaves thelateral feed screw section, relay switches I04 and I05 open and stop,the motors by dynamic braking before 00 degrees over-travel of thescrew.-

Shortly after the fixtures leave the stations D and Fl traveling towardsthe center or line, of advance, limit switches l91and I00 areautomatically opened to prevent the solenoid I00 and solenoid I05 frombeing energized when the cam IOI closes. At the same time, limitswitches I94 and I00 are closed, partly establishing the outward feedingcircuit for the next cycle, but no movement takes place as the timerelay TL--1 and IL-0 are kept open until cam 01 has opened its contact.Then TL--1 and TL-0 are closed.

to establish the outward feeding circuit for the next cycle. I

The solenoid I00 operatesthe feeding screws for the machines D and I"longitudinally at the proper time, the circuit for the motors which turnthese screws being established when cam I0I recioses its contact.Reverse limit switches 200, IN 202 .and 000 are also-closed toshort-circuit time limit relay coil 204 which "operates the time limitrelayTL-I I, and which closes after a second or so of delay to energizesolenoid I33. This operates the fluid pressure valve to supply fluid tothe line 200 which moves the fixture guiding levers so as to guide thefixtures in their line of advance through the machine series. When theselevers come into their longitudinal position they automatically closelimit switches 206 which are in circuit in series with the switches I01shown at the upper part of Fig. 15.

When the various "tool heads of the drilling machines H to L inclusivehave completed their operations and return to their upper position theyeach close limit switches 200, provided in series with contact of thecam 00; so that when all of the machines have stopped, thev solenoidcoil I02 is energized and its control valve is shifted to supply fluidto line 200 thus causing the pistons I00 to move upwardly, withdrawinthe locating pins from the fixtures. At the end of the upward movementsof the various pistons, their extensions open contacts I00 and closecontacts I00, thus partly establishing the circuit for longitudinalindexing.

. The broach in the meantime has finished its cutting stroke, and itstrip 2I0 has shifted the pilot valve I01 to the right, causing fluid toenter the line I09, reversing the operation of the valve I40 andreversing the operation of the valve I42 so as to move the broach saddlethroughthe eccentric arrangement in an upward direction. The broachproper returns to its original position by its own operating unit. Thepiston of the resetting valve III is moved upward toward its originalposition by the supply fluid through the line 100. At this time thereturn screw comes to a stop, having been previously slowed down by thecams 04 and 00 which control circuits for cutting in resistances for thecontrol, of the speed of the return screw at the end ofits operatingmovement. Shortly after the fixture leaves the return screw, the cam 00opens its contact to stop the return screw motors III and ii! and applydynamic braking. At the same time cam 03 opens its contact, cams 00 andII close their contacts, and cams 00 and Ill closetheir contacts. Theclosing of these contacts initiates a new cycle. In this new cycle,after the longitudinal indexing of the fixtures has taken place, thefixtures will move from the center of stations D and F to the machines Dand F instead of moving to machines D and F as they did in the previouscycles. After the fixtures on these stations come to rest, solenoidcoils I90 and I05 will be energized by closing contact of cam I0l, andthe forward switches I01 and I00. The solenoid coil I00 operates oneside of the solenoid shown in Fig. 14,,shifting its piston so as to letfluid enter the line in order to move the transverse feed screw sectionsD and F outwardly so that the screws may pick up the fixturein themachines D and F in their feeding movement. The solenoid I00 operates tosupply fluid to the line which lowers the pistons I10 provided on themachines D and F so that the locating pins on the heads of thesemachines are engaged with the holes in the fixtures.

After, the completion of the operations of machines D and F the toolheads of those machines move up and close limit switches I04 in serieswith the contact of cam I00, energizingsolenoid coil I14 operating thefiuid control valve to supply fluid to move the pistons I10 of machinesD and F 'upwardlythus withdrawing the locating pinsjirom'the fixturesinthesemaclnnes.

8 s,iss,sos

After the reverse cross-indexing from the machines D and 1'', limitswitches Ill and III are closed, energizing solenoid III The coil ofthis solenoid shifts the piston of the solenoid valve stosupplyfiuidinsuchamannerastocauseendwise movement of the screws ofmachines D and I so that they will be able topick up the fixtures forcross indexing when the next cycle starts.

Thelimit switches (III, III, I'll, ill, ltletc.)

II are all operated at their proper times in the severalswitchboxesltlofthemachinesb and D and IF and I" and properly interrelate thevarious feeding and operating movements of these machines with the othermachines 'of the II series. Suitable auxiliary circuits, showndiagrarnamtically in Fig. 17, are interposed as required by the variousoperated mechanisms shown in Fig. 15, The controlled devices such as themotors, the motor resistances, switchu,

Q etc.. are shown inl'ig. 16.

While the method herein described, and the form of apparatus forcarryingthis method into efi'ect. constitute preferred embodiments of theinvention. it is to be understood that the inmade in either withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention which is definedv in theappended claims.

80 What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a series ofmechanisms spaced diiferent distances apart and one following anotherfor successive operations on work pieces, work car- 35 rying fixtures,and feeding means for moving said fixtures predetermined amounts toadvance them through said mechanisms, said feeding means comprising arotatable device extending through a number ofsaid mechanisms and havingthreads socngageablewiththe fixturesand arranged to advance a fixture'dificrent distances in accordance with the difierent spacings of saidmechanisms at difierent locations along said device for a given numberof revolutions of said device. 4 2. Apparatus of the character describedcomprising a series of mechanisms spaced different distances apart andone following another for successive operations on work pieces, andfeeding means for moving said work pieces predetermined amoimts toadvance them through said mechanisms, said feeding means comprising arotatable device extending through a number of said mechanisms andhaving threadsof difierent lead at different points along the length ofsaid a device for simultaneously advancing different work piecesdiiferent amounts in accordance with the difierent spacings of saidmechanisms. and means for intermittently operating said feeding means apredetermined number of revolutions to advance the work pieces throughsaid .diifrent amounts.

3. Apparatus oi the character described comprising a series of spaceddifferent distances apart and adapted for-successive 'operations on workpieces, work carying fixtures. and

feeding means for moving said fixtures predetermined amounts in a stepby step manner to advance the fixtures to and through said mechanisms,said feeding means comprising a rotatable shaft extending through anumber of said mechanisms and having threads of difierent lead with thelead of thethreads coordinated with the disother, said feeding meanscomprising a threaded shaft formed-of longitudinally connected sections,

the threads of the different sections having leads cordinated with thedistance between mecha- 5. Apparatus of the character describedcomprising a series of mechanisms one following another and adapted forsuccessive'operations on work pieces, work carrying fixtures, andfeeding means for moving said fixtures through said mechanisms and fromone mechanism to the next, said feeding means comprising screw sectionsengageable with the fixtureathe threads of each section being spacedsuch a common distance from the threads of an adjacent section as toadvance a fixture to a position free of engagement therewith before thefixture is engaged bythe succeeding section, whereby a dwell period isprovided for the fixtures at the end of each advancing step.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a series ofmechanisms one following another and adapted for successive operationson work pieces, work carrying fixtures, and feeding means for movingsaid fixtures predetermined amounts to advance. them through saidmechanisms and from one mechanism to another, said feeding-meanscomprising a series of screw sections having threads of different leadengageable with the fixtures, supporting means for said sectionsengaging the outer sides of the threads at 0 one side. of the sections,and means for driving said sections at different points along the lengthof said feeding means.

'I. In an apparatus of the character described,

work carrying fixtures, and feeding means for moving said fixturespredetermined distances, said feeding means comprising screw sections,said work carrying fixtures each having a plurality of screw engagingprojections, the threads section being spaced from the threads ofanadjacent section a distance slightly greater than the distance betweenthe projections on a fixture, so that the fixture is not engaged by afollowing section until after the fixture is moved completely out ofengagement with the preceding section.

- 8. In a series of mechanisms adapted for successive operations on workpieces, work carrying fixtures each having a pair of screw engagingprojections,-and feeding means for said fixtures adapted to" advancethem through said mechanisms andg-from one mechanism to another in stepsof different length, said feeding means comprising screw sections havingthreads of different lead in accordance with the required step lengthsbut each'section adapted for simultaneous driving engagement with thesaid pair of I. Apparatusfor the character described coma series ofmechanisms one following another and adapted for succusive operations onwork pieces, work carrying fixtures, operable h said mechanisms, and aturn table in said series provided between a pair of adjacent mechanismsand adapted to rotate'a fixture a predetermined angular amount when itreaches the turn table, feeding means for advancing said fixtures stepby step through said mechanisms to and from said turn table, each ofsaid fixtures having means cooperatively engaged by said feeding meansin either position of advance of the fixture.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising a series ofmechanisms one following an.- other and adapted for successiveoperations on work pieces, work carrying fixtures, a turn table in saidseries provided between a pair of adjacent mechanisms and adapted torotate each fixture as it reaches the turn table station, and feedingmeans for advancing the fixtures step by step from one mechanism toanother and for advancing the fixtures to and from said turn table, eachfixture having means cooperatively engaging said feeding means foradvancing the fixture to said turn table and having additional meanscooperatively engaging said feeding means for advancing the fixture fromsaid turn table.

11. Apparatus of the character described comprising a series ofmechanisms one following another and adapted for successive operationson work pieces, work carrying fixtures, a turn table in said seriesprovided between a pair of adjacent mechanisms-for rotating a fixturesupplied thereto on a vertical axis through a predetermined angularamount, and a common feed screw engageable with said fixtures foradvancing the fixtures step by step from one mechanism to another and toand from said turn table,

'each fixture having a projection symmetrically located between itssides and engaged by said screw as the fixture is advanced to the turntable and having an additional projection symmetrically located betweenits sides as the fixture leaves the turn table and engaged by saidscrew.

12. Apparatus of the character described comprising a series ofmechanisms one following another and adapted to perform differentoperations on work pieces passing through such series, means for feedinga series of similar work pieces step by step in a common line of advancethrough said series, additional mechanisms disposed laterally onopposite sides of said series, and means.

for moving successive work pieces out of the common line of advanceto-opposite sides of said series to said additional mechanisms and forreturning the. work pieces from said additional mechanisms back to theline of advance.

13. Apparatus of the character described comprising a series ofmechanisms one following an-.

otherand adapted to perform different operations on work pieces passingthrough suchseries, work carrying fixtures, means for feeding saidfixtures step by step through said series from one mechanism to afollowing mechanism, a transfer station provided in said series, aplurality of additional mechanisms disposed laterally of a common pointof said series at said transfer station, and means operated intimedrelation with said feeding means for moving successive fixtures out of acommon line of advance to different laterally disposed mechanisms andfor returning the laterally moved fixtures back to the line of advance.

14. Apparatus of the character described comprising a series ofmechanisms varying in size and one following another in succession foroperation on workpieces and adapted for broaching and drillingoperations at diflerent stations along the series, work carryingfixtures, and a feed screw for moving different fixtures differentamounts coordinated with the 'spacing'between successive stations.

15. Apparatus of the character described com prising a series ofmechanisms one following another and adapted for successive operationson work. pieces, work carrying fixtures each having screw engagingprojections, a feed screw engageable with said projections, pivotallysupported guide means engageable with two lateral sides of a fixture formaintaining the fixture in a predetermined attitude as it is moved bysaid feed screw, andmeans for rotating said guide means a predeterminedamount so that the guide the time of operation is longer than the timebetween said feeding steps.

17. The method of machining work pieces comprising feeding the workpieces in carrying fixtures step by step along a series of machine toolsin which different successive machining operations are 'carried out inthe interval between successive feeding steps, and alternately shuntingthe successive fixtures and work pieces temporarily out of the line offeed and into alternate similar machine tools in which the time ofoperation is longer than the time between said feeding steps. v p

18. The method of similarly machining work pieces comprising feeding thework pieces in carrying fixtures step by step along a series of machinetools in which different successive machining operations are carried outwithin a given time interval, and at a given point in the seriesshunting alternate fixtures to alternate machine tools in which theoperating time required is longer than the time between the feedingsteps, and returning the fixtures alternately from the alternate machinetools after the operation therein has been completed to a common line ofadvance. g

LYNDON C. COLE.

